Morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the living room curtains, falling squarely on Johnny's face.
He didn't stretch lazily like a typical teenager. His eyes snapped open, fully alert. In a fraction of a second, his breath hitched, and his right hand had already snatched the hilt of the Scrap Greatsword leaning against the sofa.
Silence. Only the sound of birds chirping and the aroma of coffee.
"Oh... right. Aerith's house," he thought, slowly relaxing his rigid muscles.
Old habits died hard. In his old world, deep sleep was an invitation to death. Every night was a gamble against the evil spirits drawn to the Brand of Sacrifice on his neck. But here... the Brand didn't bleed.
Johnny turned to the sofa cushion. Puck was still fast asleep on his back, limbs sprawled wide. A small snot bubble expanded and contracted from his nose in time with his soft, rhythmic snoring.
"Slacker," Johnny muttered.
He flicked the bubble lightly until it popped, startling Puck awake in a daze. Without giving the fairy time to protest, Johnny snatched him up and stuffed him into the inner pocket of his jacket. He then folded the blanket with military precision and straightened his clothes before walking to the dining room.
The aroma of toast and butter filled the air.
"Good morning, Johnny," Elmyra greeted. She looked fresh, currently arranging plates on the table. "Did you sleep well? That sofa might be a bit old."
"Very well, Ma'am. More comfortable than any bed I've ever slept in. Thank you," Johnny replied politely, standing at attention beside the chair until invited to sit.
Moments later, light footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Aerith descended wearing a bright yellow dress that seemed to brighten the room. Her face was radiant, her hair braided neatly with a light green ribbon that shimmered faintly—Ivalera in disguise. There was no trace of last night's tears.
"Morning, Mom! Morning, Bodyguard!" Aerith chirped, pulling out the chair next to Johnny.
Breakfast was a warm affair. Elmyra asked about Johnny's father's workshop in Sector 7, and Johnny answered sparingly but politely.
Johnny set his coffee cup down slowly. His face turned serious.
"Mrs. Elmyra," he began. "I plan to come here often from now on. Maybe once a week, or whenever I can get permission to leave the Sector."
Elmyra raised an eyebrow, her teacup pausing halfway to her lips. She looked at Johnny, then glanced at her daughter. "Oh? Why so regularly?"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Elmyra's lips. 'Young people these days,' she thought. To her, this was clearly the maneuver of a boy trying to court the girl he liked.
Johnny glanced at Aerith briefly, seeking support, then looked back at Elmyra with a deadpan expression.
"Aerith... promised to teach me how to care for plants. The air in Sector 7 is bad; nothing grows there but rust. I want to learn so I can build a small garden for my mother at home," Johnny lied. His tone was flat and convincing.
Aerith choked on her bread, stifling a laugh. She hurriedly drank some water, then nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, Mom! Johnny has a hidden natural talent! That iron hand of his is actually very gentle with lilies! He has the soul of a farmer!"
Elmyra smiled, amused. She looked at Johnny's large, rough hands, and then imagined them holding a tiny trowel. A sweet contrast.
"Of course, Johnny," Elmyra said warmly. "This house is always open to Aerith's friends. Just don't forget to tell your parents so they don't worry."
After breakfast, Aerith walked Johnny to the front gate. Elmyra went into the kitchen for a moment to wrap up some leftover bread for Johnny to take home.
In that moment alone, under the shade of the tree by the fence, Aerith reached into her dress pocket.
"Open your hand," Aerith commanded.
Johnny obeyed. Aerith dropped a small crystal ball, the size of a large marble, into Johnny's calloused palm. The sphere was a pale purple, glowing dimly from within as if smoke were swirling at its core.
Johnny stared at the object with a furrowed brow. He felt a faint energy inside it, similar to the Lifestream in the cave, but denser and locked away.
Materia, he realized. He had seen things like this in the shop windows of Wall Market yesterday.
"I found it at the church yesterday, tucked between the old pews," Aerith whispered. "It's Materia. Lifestream energy that has naturally condensed and solidified."
Aerith closed Johnny's fingers, forcing him to grip the sphere tightly.
"This is a 'Cover' type," Aerith explained. "This Materia will trigger your body to move on its own to protect me or others when danger comes. It fits you perfectly, doesn't it, Mr. Shield?"
Johnny looked at the purple orb, then looked at Aerith with confusion.
"I... have never used anything like this, Aerith. Where I come from, magic is for witches, not swordsmen."
Aerith blinked, an expression of disbelief washing over her face. She looked Johnny up and down.
"Wait a second," Aerith said slowly. "Are you serious? You walked all the way from Sector 7 to Sector 5, through the ruins, carrying that door-sized sword, fought off monsters... and you aren't equipped with a single Materia?"
Johnny shook his head innocently. "No. I just hit them. If they don't die, I hit them again. Harder."
Aerith's jaw dropped slightly. She let out a short laugh, a mix of amazement and amusement.
"By Planet, Johnny! You really are just 'iron muscle and wire bones,' aren't you? You're playing life on Hard Mode!"
Aerith shook her head, chuckling.
"No wonder you're so battered. Normal people use Materia to boost their physical stats, heal wounds, or use magic. You... you're running purely on grit and horsepower."
Johnny scratched the back of his head, though it didn't itch. "Is that weird?"
"Very weird! It's like eating soup with a fork! It's possible, but difficult!" Aerith patted Johnny's arm. "Okay, it's decided. Next week, besides gardening, we're opening a class called 'Materia 101'. I don't want my shield dying a silly death because he's too technologically illiterate to use magic."
"Yes, Teacher," Johnny replied obediently, offering a stiff Shinra-style salute.
He tucked the purple crystal into a special pouch on his leather belt, in the spot most easily accessible by his left hand.
"I will keep it safe," Johnny said, turning serious again. "And I will learn to use it. For you."